From the Guidelines
Tadalafil is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor medication. The medication works by relaxing smooth muscles in blood vessel walls, increasing blood flow to specific areas of the body. For erectile dysfunction, tadalafil is typically prescribed at doses of 5-20mg taken before sexual activity, with the 2.5mg and 5mg doses also available for daily use. Unlike other PDE5 inhibitors such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil has a longer duration of action, often lasting up to 36 hours, earning it the nickname "weekend pill" 1.
Some key points to consider when prescribing tadalafil include:
- The medication is also prescribed for benign prostatic hyperplasia and pulmonary arterial hypertension.
- Tadalafil achieves its effects by inhibiting the PDE5 enzyme, which normally breaks down cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), a chemical that promotes blood vessel relaxation.
- By preserving cGMP levels, tadalafil enhances the natural process of blood flow that occurs with sexual stimulation, rather than directly causing erections 1.
- Improvement in erectile function was related to higher dose for sildenafil and vardenafil but not tadalafil 1.
- Tadalafil has been shown to be effective in improving erections in men with erectile dysfunction, with high-quality evidence indicating that it improves erections compared to placebo 1.
Overall, tadalafil is a effective medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, and its long duration of action makes it a popular choice among patients 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Tadalafil, USP is a selective inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). Tadalafil inhibits PDE5 The type of medication is a Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor 2.
- Main use: The medication is used to treat erectile dysfunction by increasing blood flow to the penis.
- Key mechanism: It works by inhibiting the action of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), an enzyme that breaks down cGMP, allowing cGMP to accumulate and cause smooth muscle relaxation and increased blood flow. 2
From the Research
Type of Medication
Tadalafil is a type of medication known as a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor.
Uses of Tadalafil
- It is licensed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in adult males 3, 4, 5, 6.
- It is used for the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension 3, 7.
- It is also licensed for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in adult males 3.
- Tadalafil may have potential beneficial impacts on cardiovascular diseases, including pulmonary arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, diabetic ulcers, and cardiomyopathy 7.
Characteristics of Tadalafil
- It has a structurally different molecular structure compared to other PDE5 inhibitors like sildenafil and vardenafil 4.
- It has a longer half-life of 17.5 hours compared to sildenafil and vardenafil, which have half-lives of approximately 4 hours 4.
- Food, especially fatty food, does not affect the pharmacokinetic profile of tadalafil, unlike sildenafil and vardenafil 4.
- Tadalafil has been associated with an erectogenic potential lasting for more than 24 hours, allowing for more spontaneous sexual activity 5, 6.